[Salt-Man Z]

jdiddyesquire, on 16 June 2011 - 03:48 PM, said:

UseOfWeapons, on 16 June 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

I was perusing a list of the films being shown at the British Film Insitute's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and I kid you not, there was a film called "Time-Travelling Lesbians From Outer-Space".

Um, sign me up?

You already signed up... IN THE FUTURE.

[jdiddyesquire]

Salt-Man Z, on 16 June 2011 - 04:40 PM, said:

jdiddyesquire, on 16 June 2011 - 03:48 PM, said:

UseOfWeapons, on 16 June 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

I was perusing a list of the films being shown at the British Film Insitute's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and I kid you not, there was a film called "Time-Travelling Lesbians From Outer-Space".

Um, sign me up?

You already signed up... IN THE FUTURE.

First of all, that just blew my mind.

Second of all, I grew up in Apple Valley, CA. I always found the MN city of the same name to be hilarious. Apple Valley, CA is in the middle of Mojave Desert. Apple Valley, MN is MN and it's cold there. An interest juxtaposition.

[QuickTidal]

Salt-Man Z, on 16 June 2011 - 04:40 PM, said:

jdiddyesquire, on 16 June 2011 - 03:48 PM, said:

UseOfWeapons, on 16 June 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

I was perusing a list of the films being shown at the British Film Insitute's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and I kid you not, there was a film called "Time-Travelling Lesbians From Outer-Space".

Um, sign me up?

You already signed up... IN THE FUTURE.

Salt Man Z: thinking 4th-Dimensionally since 18-ot-6

[Salt-Man Z]

jdiddyesquire, on 16 June 2011 - 04:49 PM, said:

Second of all, I grew up in Apple Valley, CA. I always found the MN city of the same name to be hilarious. Apple Valley, CA is in the middle of Mojave Desert. Apple Valley, MN is MN and it's cold there. An interest juxtaposition.

From what I've read (on Wikipedia, probably) the founder of Apple Valley, MN loved Apple Valley, CA so much that he renamed Lebanon township to Apple Valley when it incorporated. A lot of people think the name came from all the apple trees, but that was because the original housing developer planted the trees (one apple tree on each lot) because of the name. Ironically enough, we just cut our apple tree down last weekend.

Of course, AV isn't the only thing from MN to take its name from a CA city; witness Minnesotan and former governor James Janos, aka Jesse Ventura.

[jdiddyesquire]

Salt-Man Z, on 16 June 2011 - 06:37 PM, said:

jdiddyesquire, on 16 June 2011 - 04:49 PM, said:

Second of all, I grew up in Apple Valley, CA. I always found the MN city of the same name to be hilarious. Apple Valley, CA is in the middle of Mojave Desert. Apple Valley, MN is MN and it's cold there. An interest juxtaposition.

From what I've read (on Wikipedia, probably) the founder of Apple Valley, MN loved Apple Valley, CA so much that he renamed Lebanon township to Apple Valley when it incorporated. A lot of people think the name came from all the apple trees, but that was because the original housing developer planted the trees (one apple tree on each lot) because of the name. Ironically enough, we just cut our apple tree down last weekend.

Of course, AV isn't the only thing from MN to take its name from a CA city; witness Minnesotan and former governor James Janos, aka Jesse Ventura.

Thanks for the Lakers.

[Salt-Man Z]

I can't decide whether I should or you for that.

[D'iversify]

UseOfWeapons, on 16 June 2011 - 03:45 PM, said:

I was perusing a list of the films being shown at the British Film Insitute's Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and I kid you not, there was a film called "Time-Travelling Lesbians From Outer-Space".

Perhaps its the sequel to Gay Niggas from Outer Space (not seen but real film)?

[Tsundoku]

Just bought it today, thanks to the ref's in this thread from jdiddy and QT. Plus of course the minimum 40% off closing down sale at the local A&R which had this on the new release shelf didn't hurt either.

[Astra]

Quote

Easy reading.
A good story and likeable characters.

I can think of only one major drawback. You know from the beginning of each chapter who live, who die. Actually, from the first chapter of the book you know too much. This somewhat dulls the excitement. It takes away the sense of unknown, the suspense from the story and action.

Although, this fault doesn't make the book boring. The pages turn easily and you are sufficiently eager to know what is going to happen

6+/10 but I rated it 4* on amazon to be on the positive side.

[Abyss]

So i'm halfway thru... I'm going to finish this, and i'm entertained, but far from blown away so far.

I know it's unfair to compare this to WORLD WAR Z, but halfway thru i can't help myself, and it's just not as good. WWZ had a very clever narrative trick - the story you were reading always had a deeper level than the obvious. ROBO... decent enough, but, well, meh. It's all very dramatic, but far from subtle.

The central plot point that the robot overmind doesn't just wipe humans out because it's trying to be nice about the genocide just rings all kinds of false. It massacred 4 billion or so in the first few months, it fills up concentration camps, it does evil nasty experiments... but it doesn't just missilefuck the various little settlement armies??? Skynet would be embarrased.

The suggestion that some robots (the love machine and SAP) feel guilty over what they are doing was just silly.

And most of the different narrative voices 'sound' the same. I realize that there is a built in explanation because they are supposed to be the same narrator, Cormac, attempting to transcribe the stories, but then, why would he attempt to write them first person?

[Illuyankas]

I might have already mentioned it in the Reading thread ages ago but Archos is the dumbest AI ever created. Just compare what we can do with military satelites now, with what they'll be capable of in the future except oh wait he blew them all up and left only comms satellites in position? Why would this be helpful that would have saved you having to send a minute fraction of your mechanized might against what human enclaves you could find using ground units and no military equipment like copters or spyplanes why would you do this you are the worst robot ever Archos wait no the singing robot is the worst ever Archos is just idiotic beyond the realms of human comprehension. And that's ignoring the only humanoid robots can be sentient idea and the magic robotically enhanced girl.

I think the reread has slightly lowered my appreciation of the book, incidentally. Still, the Zero Hour scenes are pretty good. Also Abyss don't read the previous paragraph until you finish the book.

[Abyss]

Illuyankas, on 25 August 2011 - 03:21 PM, said:

... Also Abyss don't read the previous paragraph until you finish the book.

Dick.

But i was already past all that so your blatant spoilerification attempt is fail.


Btw, Vader is Luke's father, Verbal is Kaizer Soze, and Dil has a penis. And so does Angela.

[Illuyankas]

Spoiler

That's why it wasn't in a spoiler box.

Spoiler

You're welcome.

Also Jesus dies in The Passion of the Christ.

[Abyss]

Belgarion wins.

So there!

[Abyss]

Just noticed my comments after finishing the book were lost in the last forumpocalypse...

...so, briefly, and noting SPOILERS:



- is not WWZ, suffers for the comparison;
- AI's actions illogical, silly, throws reader out of story;
- human shaped AI's becoming sentient and independant suggests 'made in god's image' nonsense, weak and contrived plot twist;
- AI old lady sex doll singing other AI's to sentience caused me to throw book at wall;
- decently written action scenes but not enough of them;
- some characters interesting and decently developped;
- narrative voice for characters other than the main narrator are weak, unnecessary.

Not worth the hb dollars, wish i had waited for the mmpb or library.